ALPHABETS USED BY UYGHUR TURKS FROM THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY AND POEMS PUBLISHED IN THESE ALPHABETS

Uyghur Turks have lived in primarily East Turkestan, their homeland and many countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey. The literature is rich in Modern Uyghur Turkish, which is an advanced literary language. Writing literary products in Arabian alphabet, Cyrillic alphabet and Latin alphabet and the advancement or recession as can be seen in the example of poems among these literary works is directly associated with political and social condition of the Uyghurs. The said alphabets are used sometimes in official and sometimes in unofficial way. The subject matter and content of the poems have been examined and it has been seen that the poems advanced in the period when Arabian alphabet was used and several topics have been discussed whereas the poems recessed and cold propaganda texts were used dense in the period when Latin alphabet was used. Cyrillic alphabet was not under press coverage as it was used as a pilot scheme in East Turkestan. However it has been seen that Uyghurs in Kazakhstan published poems in this alphabet. In the paper; analysis method for published materials was used, the effect of the alphabet on the advancement of literary works and other factors triggering such effect shall be discussed as specific to the poem. Keywords: Uyghur Turks, alphabet, literature, poem